SACRAMENTO – Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced yesterday the signing of AB 953 (Coto). This important bill provides resources, improvement and intervention services for California's struggling schools.

The legislation provides up to $400 per student in identified schools ($240,000 for an average elementary school and $800,000 for an average high school). Schools are prioritized based on the performance of each district's most disadvantaged students. The legislation outlines the requirements of the School District Intervention Program. It also requires an early warning to schools and districts that might become program improvement districts.

Assemblymember Joe Coto (D-San Jose) worked closely with the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Jack O'Connell, and the California Department of Education to align California with the Federal No Child Left Behind legislation and provide resources and structure for Program Improvement in 143 of California's thousand school districts.

Santa Clara County School Districts will receive this Federal assistance through the California Department of Education. San Jose Unified, Alum Rock Union, Campbell Elementary, Campbell High, East Side High, Franklin-Mckinley, Gilroy, Moreland, Mountain View-Whisman, and Santa Clara are eligible to receive funding through this program. Assemblymember Coto stated "This bill is aimed at ensuring that all students achieve success and meet California's high educational standards."